Minnesota businesses selling THC-infused drinks and edibles face potential sales bans under a new federal law, cbsnews.com reported.
That law, set to take effect Dec. 11, limits hemp-derived products to 0.4 milligrams of THC. Minnesota’s current market allows drinks and edibles with up to 10 milligrams of THC.
The hemp law had been previously pushed off from November to December. Minnesota legalized hemp-derived THC products in 2022, which helped fuel a booming industry, cbsnews.com reported.
South Minneapolis establishment Northern Coffeeworks now offers THC edibles and drinks as a favored addition alongside its standard coffee selections.
It’s sad for a lot of customers that really, really like it,
barista Kara Bohlen said.
According to Bohlen, the establishment was informed last week by its payment processing vendor, Square, that transactions involving THC goods would no longer be supported.
Through Square, they immediately sent us a message and said that we need to pull all of our THC products,
Bohlen said.
As noted by cbsnews.com, a representative for Square stated that the enterprise started alerting merchants back in August to ensure adherence to upcoming federal mandates.
THC sales could heavily impact businesses that rely on those products for revenue.
I think it will definitely hurt us a bit profit-wise,
Bohlen said. Like, OK, we’re not doing THC products anymore, so will we have to increase prices on things to make up for lost profit?
Cbsnews.com noted that breweries, having increasingly transitioned toward THC drinks as public interest shifts away from alcohol, stand to face especially severe consequences.
Indeed Brewing, which also uses Square, has shifted hemp product sales to cash-only transactions. At the same time, Back Channel Brewing is offering price reductions on its THC drinks to clear out current stock prior to the implementation of the new rules.
Northern Coffeeworks has moved many of its THC products out of public view, at least for now.
I feel bad for the local businesses where they were told they could get into this market,
Bohlen said. People took big chances and made the switch and jumped in, and now it’s like the rug is being ripped out from under them again.
